Chinese POGO workers probed over virus tests

THE Paranaque City government is investigating reports that some 300 Chinese workers of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) were being tested for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) at a facility inside a private subdivision in the city.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez stressed that no permit was given to a

local laboratory at the park clubhouse of BF Homes to screen the

workers and ordered that the tests be stopped.

“Pinatigilponatinsiladahilnga

po illegal angkanilang act. Hindi po dapat sa open space sa isang subdivision gawinang mass testing (We stopped that because their act is illegal. Mass testing should not be done in an open space in the subdivision),” he said in a radio interview.

He added that the case had been referred to the city’s legal office and that a proper investigation would be conducted on who was responsible for the incident so it would not happen again in the city.

Photos circulating online showed POGO workers lined up outside the clubhouse of BF Homes subdivision.

The city government and the village government of BF Homes denied involvement.

In a statement, the village said the “entities who are involved did not seek any permits/ consent from this office nor the Parañaque City Health Office to undertake such activity.”

“Please be reminded that Covid- 19 testings are only undertaken by [ Department of Health] accredited testing centers and the City Health Office only,” it added.

Olivarez ordered Chinese POGO employees to submit their Covid-19 test results before returning to work.

The government deems POGOs as part of the business process outsourcing industry that were allowed to reopen in areas under lockdown.

As of Thursday, the Parañaque City Health Office has recorded a total of 705 people infected with the coronavirus disease, of whom 423 have recovered and 46 have died.